Hybrid Bill

The HS2 hybrid bill, the legislation to build Phase One of the railway, is currently progressing through Parliament with a target date of December 2016 to receive Royal Assent.

The HS2 Commons Select Committee has concluded by publishing its final report final report after hearing 1,600 petitions over almost two years.

Warwickshire County Council appeared before the select committee for a second time on January 18 (2016) to present its case on HS2 Ltd’s amendments to the original hybrid bill (known as Additional Provisions). The county council submitted two petitions on the amendments to seek better outcomes and lessen the impact of HS2 on highways issues, ecology matters and potential flood risk. Other concerns were raised about specific local issues such as the railhead site at Kingsbury, construction traffic near Stoneleigh and the provision of a cycleway linking Ladbroke and Southam.

On Wednesday 23 March the bill received a third reading in the House of Commons and has been introduced into the House of Lords where a committee will hear further petitions on any matters outstanding from those “directly or specially affected”. This is due to take place in Spring 2016.

The House of Lords will then follow a similar process to the Commons in that there will be a Committee Stage, Report Stage and Third Reading before both Houses consider any amendments. Once both Houses are in agreement, the Queen will provide Royal Assent for the Bill to become law. Construction of HS2 is scheduled to begin in early 2017.